Crossing-signal and operating means therefor.



L. S. BRACH. CROSSING SIGNAL AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1913,

Patentedfiuly 10, 1917.

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L. S. BRACH.

CROSSING SIGNAL AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, I913.

Patented July 10, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4 SHEETSSHEET 3- Patented July 10, 1917.

L. S. BRACH.

CROSSING SIGNAL AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 19I3.

X M H L. S. BRACH. CROSSING SIGNAL AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1913.

1,%2,@@& Patented July 10, 1917.

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Application filed April 9, 1913. Serial No. 759,967.

lhis invention relates to a signal apparatus, and the particular object thereof is to provide an apparatus suitable'for use at railway crossings,

' such a character as, when operating, to simulate manual swihging of a lantern.

A further object is to provide a structure which may be permanently fixed in an appropriate position, which will comprise a plurality of lamps spaced apart preferably in the arc of a circle, and which will comprise a casing for inclosing and protecting the lamps, its fixed position for exposing the lamps, and the casing having bulls-eve glasses fixed in its opposite walls, a pairfor each of the lamps,

A further object is to provide a simple and practical operating mechanism for 1mparting a lighting current to said lamps in appropriate sequence for simulating manual swinging of a signal lantern, said mechanism being preferably of such proportions as to be carried within the casing and being under the control of an operator at a distance.

A further object is to mount the several lamps in fixed relation'upon their common support and to hinge the casing to the support so that it may be conveniently swung into and out of and their immediate support, and the current controlling mechanism referred to to the end that the lamps and the current controlling mechanism ma be readily inspected, repaired, etc.

A further object is to provide the casing with a sign upon which may appear any desired words of warning, as for instance, the word Danger, and to provide the casing with means whereby the rays of light from the combined lamps carried within the easing are projected against said sign so as to illuminate the sign at all times when the mechanism Within the casing is operating to light the lamps.

A further object isto dispose the sign referred to in such relation that portions Specification of Letters Patent.

and similar localities, of.

this casing being removable fronr position inclosing the lamps Patented an to, rent,

thereof will be illuminated particularly by the several respective lamps to the end that the apparent swinging "of a signal lantern will illuminate progressively advancing and receding portions of the sign in accordance With the apparent swinging of the lantern across the sign. V

A further and more detailed object is to locate the sign in a position relatively beneath the casing, to omit the bottom wall of i the casing, or form said bottom wall transparent, and to provide a reflector or reflectors, disposed preferably within the casing to transmit the rays of light from the lamps directly against the sign.

A further object is to provide a sign with a double face and to provide reflectors preferably within the casing in planes at opposite sides of the lamps, so that, the in s from the lamps, striking said reflectors, will be projected toward eachother and consequently upon the two faces of the sign.

A further object is to provide a simple contrivance whereby the current for operating themechanism within the casing may be automatically under the control of a moving signal member, crossing gate, or the like, the casing, in this instance, being preferably carried by the moving member, and the current supplying means being adapted to supply current to the lamps within the cars ing coincident with the movement of the signal member into danger position.

A further object is to provide a mechanism for controlling the supply of current to the several lamps whereby the lamps may be successively. illuminated, each for a prescribed rclatively short period until the last lamp is reached, the mechanism operating to maintain this lamp illuminated for a relatively longer; period, and to subsequently illuminate the lamps in reverse order for relatively short periods until the last lamp at the other end is reached, and the mechanism being adapted to maintain this last lamp also illuminated for a relatively long period and to again successively illuminate the intermediate lamps for a relatively short period until the lamp, at the last end is again reached, the mechanism operating to repeat this to and fro lighting of the lamps so long as current is supplied thereto, the relatively longer illumination of the end lamps being calculated to simulate the normal length of time required for reaching an extreme, stopping, and starting reverse movements of a manually swung lantern,

tivel tacts. The armature being under the control of the electromagnets after the manner of the clapper carrying armature of an ordinary electric bell especially to the end that a relatively light current may be suflicient for operating the same.

A further object is to provide a transparent surface in position relatively to the several lamps, said transparent surface being of such nature as to cause the rays of light from the individual lamps successively lighted to appear to merge into each other to the end that the presence of individual spaced lamps within the casing may not be apparent from without.

A further object is to provide electric circuits for the lamps arranged so that the lamps may be illuminated or energized in consequence of the approach of a train, and extinguished or deenergized with the passing of the train.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the followingdescription of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the inventlon; and

' the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown a merely preferred form of embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with. the principles of this invention, the casing being illustrated in dotted lines, in a position swung for exposing mechanism within.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal vertical sectional view through a portion of the structure shown in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarge transverse, sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line IIIIII of Fig. 1 and looking. in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged, detailed, elevational view, partly in section on line IV-IV of Fig. 5, of the immediate mechanism employed for successively illuminating the lamps;

Fig. 5 is an'end elevational view of the 'der side of the to structure shown in Fig. 4, a portion of the casing being illustrated in transverse section;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged, side, elevational viewof the current controlling mecha nism shown in Fig. 4;, the View in this instance being taken from the opposite side of the structure from that shown m Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the wiring employed;

Fig. 81s a side elevational view of a device constructed without the sign referred to above;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but illustrating the'use' of prismatic glass insteadof the bulls-eyes shown in the other figures;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a crossing gate with my invention applied thereto, and

Fi 11 is a side elevational view of a crosslng gate showin a modified application of my invention t ereto. i

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention and particularl of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 7 re erence numeral 1 indicates a suitable post or other similar support upon which the casing 2 is'supported and held by a brace rod 3.

The casing 2 comprises end walls 4 and 5, opposite side walls 6, a bottom wall 7, and top wall 8. The top wall 8 is V-shaped and is inverted to form a water shed for the easing. An angle bar 9 extends laterally from v the side of the support 1 and along the un wall of the caslng, a i

bracket 10 being xed to said angle bar through said top Wall at the outer end of the angle bar for the attachment of the brace rod 3.

The top wall of the casing rests upon the' angle bar 9 and is fixed immovable relatively thereto.

The side, end, .and bottom walls of the casing are pivoted to swim downwardly 0 from the top wall, as upon a pivot 11 formed at 'the upper edge of the end wall 4 and enagl'iiging a bracket 12 pendent from the top w I In order .to maintain the side, end and bottom walls in their normal position, a latch 13 is provided u on the end wall 5 for engaging over a s oulder 1s, suitable locking means, as 15, being employed for preventing accidental detachment ,of the latch 13 from the shoulder 14, and a flexible chain' 16 being attached to the end wall 5 and to the angle bar 9 for limiting the downward swing of the casing.

The top wall 8 is of a suflicient width tog5 project beyond the outer surfaces of the side walls 6 to prevent the ingress of moisture, as will be understood and said side walls are preferably turned inwardly at their upper edges as at 17, so as to engage snugly against nary mirrors,

- tending i aeaeee the under Surface of the top wall when 7 swung into normal position. 1

Mounted upon a suitable bracket 18 exlongitudinally of the casing and fixed by its opposite ends as 19 to the under surface of the top wall 8 are a plurality of lamp sockets 20 into w 'ich are fitted incandescent bulbs 21.. The.several sockets 20 are spaced preferably equi-distant throughout the length of the casing and the bracket 18 is curved downwardly in the arc of a circle between its opposite ends so as to dispose the lamps in appropriate relative positions for accomplishing their intended purpose as above set forth.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention 1 have provided separately formed bulls-eye glass 22 in the side walls 6 of the casing, a pair for each of the lamps 21, one in each side wall directly opposite the respective lamps so that the light of the lamp will be seen from either side of the casing, the glasses 22 being of course disposed in the arc of a circle to correspond with the positions of the lamps. Beneath the bottom wall 7 of the casing is provided a sign 23 upon which may be displayed any appropriate wording, as for instance, the word Dam ger, as shown on the drawings. This sign is double-faced, the word being displayed on both faces, and said faces being preferably inclined from the vertical for a purpose presented to be referred to.

For convenience the sign may be constructed of two sections of sheet metal 24 spaced apart-and supported upon suitable brackets'25 fixed to the casing, the members 24 being spaced only slightly apart and the sign as an entirety being disposed substantially centrally of the under surface of the casing longitudinally thereof.

In order to illuminate the sign 1 preferably form the bottom' wall 7 of a transparent-material such'as glass, and within the casing ll arrange a pair of reflectors 25 one adjacent each of the-side walls ofthe casing and standing substantially vertical in such position as to reflect the rays of light from the lamps 21 through the bottom wall directly upon the opposite 7 surfaces of the sign. The reflectors 26 may comprise ordiif desired, and preferably extend without interruption throughout the length of the casing as best seen in Fig. 2, the inclined disposition of the members 24 7 being made so as to stand more directly in the path of the light rays from the mirrors.

Fixed to the under surface of the top wall, as by brackets, is an insulating plate 28 preferably upon the under surface of which is supported a switch mechanism and means for operating the same, so as to successively illuminate the lamps 21 in advancing and receding order.

This mechanism comprises a pair of-electromagnets 29 arranged to produce vibration of an armature 30 through the medium of suitable wiring after the manner of an ordinary electro bell as will be presently described. At the end of the armature 30 is carried a pawl 31 pivotally mounted, and urged by a spring'32 to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 33 which in turn is fixed to a shaft 34 extending through a fixed insulating block 35.

Vibration of the through the pawl .31 33 and shaft 34.

Upon the opposite end of the shaft 34 is fixed an arm 36 carrying a brush 37 at its free end adapted to travel across the surface of a plurality of insulated contact members 38 arranged in a circle upon the surface of'the insulating block 35 about the shaft 34. The brush 37 being preferably simultaneously enarmature 30, acting will rotate the ratchet of suficient length to gage two or more of the plates 3 lhe magnets 29 may be operated from any suitable distance through the medium of wires 39 leading from a battery 40, one of said wires leading directly to 29, and the other of said wires lea-ding di rectly to a contact 41 disposed for being engaged by a spring member 42 carried by the armature 30 when the magnets are deenergized. A wire 43 leads from the opposite side of the magnets 29 ture 30.

A switch or button 44 may be arranged at any suitable point for closing the circuit thus described. The armature is normally held in engagement with the contact 41 and energization of the magnet 29 will momentarily break this contact and conse-- quently destroy the circuit until the armature falls back upon the contact whereupon the operation will be repeated in a well understood manner so long as the circuit remains closed at the button 44. Continuous rotation of the brush the contact plates 38 is therefore maintained by maintaining contact at button 44.

From each of the lamps 21 a wire as 45 leads to one of the contact plates 38, the wires 45 from the end lamps 21 making con tact with diametrically oppositely disposed plates 38, and the wires from the intermediate lamps 21 making contact with an equal number of contact plates disposed at one side of the circle traversed by the brush 37 between the plates connected with the end lamps.

At the opposite side of the circle traversed by the brush 37 are arranged a similar number of plates 38 and these connected with the corresponding plates at thefirst side in any suitable manner as by wires 46.

The contact plates 38 connected with the the magnets to the arma- 37 across the faces 01' r are electrically end lamps are preferably longer than the intermediate contact plates for the purpose of maintaining the end lamps illuminated for a relatively longer period as with the immediate lamps.

From any suitable source of current, as 47, a wire 48 leads to the brush 37 through the shaft 34 and arm 36. From lJhQOpPOSltB side of the source 47 a wire 49 is common to all of the lamps through the medium of branches 50. This wire 49 may be conveniently termed a return wire, and the circuit thus formed may be under the control of a switch .or button as 51, if desired.

In operation it is apparent that in the position illustrated in Fig. 7, current from source 47 will travel alon wire 48, throu h shaft 34, arm 36, brush 3 into four of t e contacts 38, one of said contacts being an end contact for illuminating the lamp at the left hand end of the casing, and the three other contacts being for illuminating the three lamps next to the lamps at the right hand end of the casing all through wires 45. From the lamps 21 the current will travel along branch wires 50 into the return wire 49 and back to source '47. As the brush rotates at a uniform speed it will first extinguish the light in the left hand end of the casing by reason of leaving the contact plate 38 associated with that light. The intermediate lights will be successively illuminated and extinguished, and the end light at the opposite end of the casing will be illuminated. The illumination in this end lamp will continue for a relatively longer period and the intermediate lights will be again successively illuminated, but in a reversedirection, until the end light at the left hand end is again illuminated and extinguished, .etc., the operation continuing so lon as thecircuits are closed at buttons 44 an 51.

For 'convenience, the buttons 44 and 51.

may be connected so as to be operated simultaneously orotherwise, as desired, or suitable arrangement could readily be made whereby the circuit controlled by button 51 might be automatically closed by the closing of the circuit controlled by button 44.

In instances where my invention is to 'be employed in connection with a track circuit, so as to be under the control of passing trains, the buttons 44 and 51 may be arranged for simultaneous operation as a result of the effect of the passing train upon the'track circuit. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated these buttons as controlled by a relay ma et 64 which is electrically connected with the track rails by wires 65. Suitable insulation as 66 is inserted in the track for insulating a desirable section thereof, and a battery 67 is electrically connected between the rails. The track circuit thus formed is a closed circuit so that the buttons 44 and compared 51-are normally held open by the magnet Where the motor and lamps are controlledby a track circuit it is desirable to provide additional circu t controllin means, as the .switches 68, by means of'w ich the device may be manually rendered inoperative when desired.

In instances where my invention is to b applied for coijperation with a moving signal device, crossing gate, or the like, as

64. As soon as a train enters upon the insuillustrated in Fig. 10, the circuit controlled by the button 44 may be automatically opened and closed coincident with the movement of the signal member.

In such devices the casing with the lamps may be mounted directly upon the moving member as shown in Fig. 10 or may be.

mounted upon a separate support as shown in Fig. 1, and the illumination thereof be dependent upon the operation of the "moving signal device. v

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a fixed contact as 52 connected by a wire 53 to the battery 40 said battery corresponding to the battery 67 'in Fig. 7. i

LOotiperating-With the. fixed contact 53 is a movable contact member 54 normally held in engagement with the contact 52 by a spring 55 A push rod or other equivalent means as 56 may be arranged to be engaged by a cam-like member 57 movable with the movable signal device whereby to move the contact 54 out of engagement with the contact' 52 at such time as the signal device is moved into a non-danger position. -The moving signal member in Fig. 10 being a crossing gate Ihave arranged the push rod 56 so as to be engaged by the cam member 57 when the crossing gate is raised.

From the movable contact 54, a wire 58 leads into a box 59 and from said box a wire 60 leads back to the battery 40. Within the box 59 is preferably arranged the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 and also the buttons 44 and 51, and the controlling magnet 64, as shown in Fig. 7. The wires 58 and 60 obviously correspond with the wires 65 of Fig. 7. The wires applying current for illuminating the lamps within the casing 2 may be contained within a. cable 61 extending'from the box 59 to the casing2. The source of supply for the motor and lamps, corresponding to the battery 47 of Fig. 7, may enter the box 59 through a cable 62.

In lieu of the casing 2 with the lamps disposed in the arc of a circle, it is within the province of this invention to arrange the lamps in a straight line, the bulls-eye glasses being carried directly by the blade of'the As above suggested 1 may employ prismatic glasses extending continuously 5 throughout the length of the casing at op-.

posits sides in lieu of theseparately formed and spaced bulls-eye glasses described. EA 7 structure employing the-prismatic glass illustrated in Fig. 9-, the glass-being desig 1o hated by referencefnumeralfiil;

By the peculiar arrangement-of?fbullseyes, or prismatic glass, in'connection with the sign, it is. apparent that to an observer at a distance, the whole device will present the very conspicuous appearance as of a signal lantern waved before a danger sign so as to forcibly attract attention to the Theappearance will be the same at either side, and this from a single set of lamps.

In instances where it may be desired to omit the sign 23 from beneath the casing, the glass may be omitted from the bottom wall 7, and said wall be made of metal, or

' otherwise, as illustrated in Fig. 8..

25 As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diderent embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus described my invention what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Let- LPatent, is:

l. A signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in an arcuate row of a radius substantially as will be defined by the manual swinging of a lantern at arms length, means for illuminating said lamps successively in reverse directions, and means so for maintaining the lamps at the opposite ends of said row illuminated for a relatively longer period than the period of illumination of the intermediate lamps.

2. A signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in an arcuate row ofaraolius substantially as will be defined by the manual swinging of a lantern at arms length, means for illuminating said lamps successively in reverse directions, and means for maintaining the lamps at the opposite ends of said row illuminated for a relatively longer period than the period of illumination of the intermediate lamps, comprising a plurality of relatively stationary contact plates to arranged in a circle, two contact plates for each of the intermediate lps, one at i side of'said circle, a pair of contact pla one for each of said end lamps arranged in said circle between the pairs of the first mentioned plates, the contact plates for the end lamps being of substantially twice the length of the contact plates for the intermediate lamps, means electrically connectmg the lntermediate lamps with the two contact plates respectively relating thereto,

means electrically connecting the end lamps respectively, with the relatively long contact plates, a movable contact member adapted to move successivelyinto contact with all of said contact plates, a source of electric energy,'means connecting said movable contact member with said source, and means for connectlng said source to all of said lamps, a motor for moving said movable contact comprising an electromagnet, an armature therefor, pawl and ratchet connections be tween said armature and said movable contact, an electric circuit associated with said electromagnet and said armature for vibrating said armature, and a switch for controlling said electric circuit.

3. A signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in a row, means for illuminatmg said lamps successively to and fro along the row, and means associated with said row of lamps collectively whereby to difiuse the light rays emanating from the respective lamps, substantially as described.

4. A signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in a row, means for illununating said lamps successively to and fro along the row, and a sheet of prismatic glass disposed in front of said row of lamps substantially co-entensive with said rowadapted for difiusing the light rays emanating from said lamps, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

5. A. signal devicecomprising a plurality of lamps arranged in a row, means for illuminating said lamps successively to and l re along the row, a casing inclosing all of said lamps, and translucent means carried by the opposite walls of said casing extending continuously throughout the length of the row of lamps being disposed directly opposite said lamps, and being adapted to diduse the light rays emanating from said lamps, substantially as, and for the purpose described.

6. The combination with a signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in a row, means for illuminating said lamps successively to and fro along the row, of a sign associated therewith in such manner that successively advancing and retreating portions of said sign will be illuminated in accordance with the to and fro illumination of said lamps.

7. The combination with a signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in row, means for illuminating said lamps successively to and fro along the row, of a. double-faced sign associated with said lamps, and means for directing the light rays from said lamps upon the opposite faces of sald sign in such manner that successlvely advancin and retreating portions of the 0pposite faces of said sign w1ll be lllummated in accordance with'the illumination of said lamps' 8. In a signal device the combination wlth a visual sign of a devlce for renderlng sald sign consplcuous, comprising means for 11111- minating successively advancing and-receding portions of said sign whereby to SlIIllllate the manual swinging of a lantern relatively to said sign.

9. In asignal device, the combination with a double-faced sign, of a device. for rendering said sign conspicuous, comprising means for successively illuminating relatively advancing and receding portions of the opposite faces of said sign simultaneously whereby to simulate the manual swinging of a lantern relatively to the opposite faces of said sign.

10. In a signal device, the combination with an illuminating means, and a casing for inclosing saidl illuminating means comprising opposite "side walls and a bottom wall, of a sign disposed beneath said bottom wall, said bottom wall being transparent whereby said sign may be illuminated from the illuminating means within said casing, and means ,for causing said illuminating means to illuminate successively advancin portions ofjthe length of the sign.

11. A signal device comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in a row, means for illuminating said lamps successively to and fro along the row, a casing inclosing all of said lamps, and translucent means carriedby the opposite walls of said casing adjacent said lamps whereby the advancing and retreating illumination of the lamp alongthe row may be visually apparent from opposite sides of the casing.

12. In a signal device,-mea ns forsimulatilluminating means to and fro alon ing'the movements of a manually swung lan tern, comprising illuminating means arranged 'in arcuate disposition, means forilluminating successive portions of said t e length thereof, and means for maintaining the opposite end portions of said illuminatmg means illuminated for a greater period of time than the successive respective intermediate portions thereof for the purpose-setr 14. In a signal device, the combination with adouble faced sign, of means for simulating the effect of a manually swung lantern adjacent said sign, comprising a plurality of stationary illuminating devices arranged in a row, means for renderin said illuminatng devices luminous in ser es to and fro along the row, and means for transmitting the light rays from said illuminating devices to opposite sides of said sign.-

15. In a signal device, means for simulating the movements of a manually swung lantern, comprising 'illuminatingmeans arranged in arcuate disposition, means for illuminating successive portions of said illuminating means to and fro along the length thereof, and means for rendering the opposite end portions of said illuminating means relatively more conspicuous than the successlve respective intermediate portions thereof for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEON s. BEACH.

Witnesses:

L. GERSFORD HANDY, NATHALIE THOMPSON.- 

